Zoom delivers alternative to campus dining

Author: Lea Calderon-Guthe

In the past, the arrival of November meant that the chilly air and biting winds would force students into the comfort of their heated rooms, and the eateries in town would become little more than seemingly mythical, distant dreams of scrumptious sandwiches and ethnic food - but no more. Zoom Delivery, self-described as "online ordering, takeout and restaurant delivery to Middlebury" is the latest modification to the town of Middlebury's restaurant scene, and it happily caters to the College campus. Trish Lafayette, owner, manager and driver for Zoom, runs the four-week-old business with the help of two other drivers on busy days.

"I've worked in restaurants a lot of my life, and I pretty much figured out that I wanted to work for myself and own my own business," Lafayette said. "With my restaurant experience and realizing that Middlebury had no good delivery service besides Neil and Otto's, that's where I got the idea. I wanted people to be able to choose different options for food."

Lafayette's idea is new to Middlebury, but most major cities offer non-restaurant-specific food delivery services, and, in fact, several of the restaurants that offer takeout through Zoom signed on with Lafayette because of experience with a similar business in Burlington. Zoom is a product of the modern age, and as such it combines convenience, technology and affordability. Clients can visit Zoom's Web site, input their zip code and order away on complete, clickable menus, or phone in their orders to 802-388-ZOOM. Zoom makes deliveries to the Middlebury and East Middlebury areas at a charge of three dollars, and takes orders for Noonies Deli, Green Peppers, Sama's CafÈ, Taste of India and Top Spice anywhere from five days before a scheduled delivery up to one hour prior to an impromptu delivery. So far, the idea seems to be a hit.

"A lot of people tell me that it's a great idea and they can't wait to use it," Lafayette said. "I haven't gotten any negative feedback about it. Business is increasing by the week. I'm just having fun with it."

Zoom's popularity benefits more than its owner, however. The restaurants that have signed on with the delivery service are utilizing Zoom as both free advertising and a way to be more accessible to the public.

"If our product is going to be seen as more available, I would hope that that would open doors to people who currently aren't here, or aren't wanting to get into their cars and come all the way over here," Green Peppers owner and manager Mark Perrin said. "One of the attractive things about going with Zoom is that folks who weren't coming to the restaurant already are now becoming familiar with our menu online."

Perrin is especially hoping to garner more business from Middlebury College students.

"We've been in town since 1982 and we've seen a lot of change in Middlebury, but historically I'd say this is the least we've seen Middlebury kids," Perrin said. "Something is changing."

Perrin thought that the "something" might be the parking situation for students at the College. Since many students' cars must be parked in lots often on the other side of campus from their dorms, Perrin thinks they may be opting to eat in rather than go out of their way to drive somewhere.

"People just aren't getting in their cars and leaving unless they really have to go someplace," Perrin said.

Though Sama Hayyat, co-owner and manager of Middlebury Market and CafÈ, also known as Sama's CafÈ, has had little trouble attracting student business since he is so close to campus, he was already considering a delivery service before Lafayette approached him.

"I jumped right on it," Hayyat said. "It's something that I've seen in bigger cities that appealed to me because it's a company that's doing it on its own - we just take the takeout order and don't have to go to the trouble of delivering it ourselves."

Hayyat says he has not even noticed Zoom's presence - its orders come in as regular takeout orders. He sees Zoom as an opportunity that can only increase his business through the free advertising and larger client base. He does not worry that it will keep students from coming into the restaurant, either.

"I don't think it will decrease the number of students that come to our store because we have a lot of students that come in on their way into town," Hayyat said. "Our location is good for the students. I've always said we're the first stop and the last stop going on and off campus."

Lafayette does not cite serving the College as one of her primary goals, but she does acknowledge that it will be, and has been already, a major source of business.

"[The restaurants and Zoom] are trying very hard to spread more to Middlebury College," Lafayette said. "When I started the business I figured they would be the biggest clientele, and so far they are a big part of it."